MAYVILLE, N.D. – The University of Minnesota Morris football team dropped a 37-13 contest against Mayville State University on Saturday in Mayville, N.D.
 
On the first play from scrimmage, Jesse Davies Jr. forced a fumble and recovered it to set the Cougars up at the Mayville 43-yard line. The offense could not capitalize on the turnover and turned the ball over on downs.
 
The Cougar defense came up big again, forcing a three-and-out with Derrick Dohmen and Arian Saenz making tackles. On the punt return, Damaris Fields caught the ball at the UMM 28-yard line and returned it to the Mayville 40-yard line. Sean-Keley Chinanga drew a penalty after being shoved out of bounds, moving the Cougars to just outside the red zone. Bryson Drake found Jacob Wilmes in the middle for the opening score. On the point after, the Comets blocked the kick and returned it for two points.
 
Mayville State took the lead on its next drive after a long rush, making the score 9-6 after the first quarter. The Comets extended their lead with another seven points in the second quarter.
 
The Cougars started marching down the field. Drake connected with Manny Guy for a 14-yard gain, and then a personal foul moved the offense forward another 15 yards. Chinanga had a 10-yard rush to move the chains. Drake kept the drive alive with a 15-yard pass to Trent Roden. Two plays later, Drake went back to Roden for a touchdown. Rylan Greene made the PAT to pull the Cougars within three.
 
In the final seconds of the half, the Comets were in the red zone. On the final play of the half, Dylan Young forced a fumble with Mayville State at the Cougar two-yard line to keep the score at 16-13 heading into halftime.
 
Minnesota Morris started the second half with a three-and-out. On the ensuing punt, the Comets blocked the kick and returned it for an early touchdown. Mayville added another touchdown before the half was over.
 
On the final drive of the third quarter, the Cougars started at their own 25-yard line. On third down, a pass interference call extended the drive and moved the sticks. Minnesota Morris was around midfield on fourth-and-two when Drake completed a pass to Guy for a first down. Drake moved the sticks again after connecting with Dylan Shafer. The quarter ended with the Cougars at the MSU 20-yard line on fourth-and-seven. Greene started the fourth quarter with a field goal attempt that came up short.
 
On the following drive, Mayville State went 80 yards for the final score of the game to make it 37-13.
 
Drake totaled 122 passing yards with two touchdowns. Roden completed a pass for 15 yards. Roden and Wilmes each recorded a touchdown catch in the contest.
 
Defensively, Saenz led the team with 14 tackles, including nine solo and five assisted. Dohmen followed with nine tackles. The Cougars forced two fumbles, one each by Davies and Young.
 
Minnesota Morris returns home for a noon kickoff against Buena Vista University.